Tis’ the season to be jolly, Mallala la la, la la la la.
For the first time in three years, the Mallala Lions Christmas Party returns to Mallala Oval on December 17, with free entertainment offered for families to enjoy at this festive time of the year.
The Christmas Party started in 2015 and includes a carnival and street parade, with the Mallala and Districts Lions Club once again funding it to provide free rides and entertainment.
The event was born out the aftermath of the Pinery bushfire in 2015, bringing the community together following such a traumatic time, however further challenges have kept it from happening in the past three years.
Event organiser Sharna Wildbore said the event had been impacted by the Covid pandemic, and an effort was made last year but things did not pan out.
She said planning had been done since the start of the year, with rides and attractions needing to be booked by at least March.
“It was going to be brought back last year, but by the time we had thought about it, it was too late,“ she said.
“In March 2022, Covid was still raring its ugly head, and we didn’t want to make plans and then later be left disappointed.“
Mrs Wildbore is part of a committee that has been driving the organisation of the Christmas Party, taking pressure off the Lions Club who has been focused on projects such as its recently opened community centre.
The Lions Club has been a key part behind the Christmas Party since the first in 2015, originally planning to fund the rides and entertainment for one year before committing to supporting it every year.
Festivities will kick off at 3pm with the parade at the oval, which will include the arrival of Father Christmas on board an old style firetruck.
Once the jolly man in the red suit arrives people will be able to enjoy the rides, as well as food and market stalls at the oval.
Mrs Wildbore said the community had rallied to bring the event back, with local businesses donating towards the event, with support also received from the Adelaide Plains Council.
She said news of the Christmas Party’s return was warmly received.
“When we put it up on Facebook, there were a lot of positive responses,“ she said.
“At this time of the year, there is a different feel, because we’re close to Christmas, school’s finished and not all parents can afford these types of experiences.
“This is the biggest community event (for Mallala) where everyone is in the one place at the one time.“
Local children are encouraged to get involved by decorating their bikes to feature in the parade.
Local boy Blake Charleson said he was “super excited“ to see the event back, and was most looking forward to the rides.
